Florida State College at Jacksonville is about to turn its South Campus gym into a stage for major-conference college basketball. The school will host the 2026 Scout Jacksonville Classic, a four-day showcase bringing NCAA Division I men's and women's programs to The Reef from November 22 through November 25.
The event was reported by News4JAX and will fill the Thanksgiving week slate with sixteen total teams split across men's and women's brackets. The men's field includes UIC, Lamar, Miami (Ohio), New Mexico State, Ohio, Rice and Robert Morris, while the women's bracket features Arizona, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Vanderbilt, Virginia, George Washington, Middle Tennessee State, Montana State and UAB. FSCJ President John Avendano called the tournament a chance to show Jacksonville and the nation what makes FSCJ special, according to the outlet's report, adding that the college plans to create a welcoming experience for traveling fans, families and community members.
A Four-Day Schedule Packed With Games
The tournament opens Sunday with three men's games: Miami (Ohio) faces UIC at noon, Robert Morris meets New Mexico State at 2:30 p.m., and Rice takes on Lamar at 5 p.m., per the same News4JAX account. Monday shifts to the women's bracket, with Oregon State playing Middle Tennessee State at noon, Oklahoma facing Virginia at 2:30 p.m., Vanderbilt taking on Arizona at 5 p.m., and UAB meeting George Washington at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday brings a mixed slate of men's and women's contests, starting with New Mexico State versus Ohio at 11 a.m., followed by Rice against UIC at 1:30 p.m., Montana State facing Oklahoma at 4 p.m., Lamar taking on Robert Morris at 6:30 p.m., and Virginia closing the day against UAB at 9 p.m. The tournament wraps Wednesday with Ohio playing Rice at 11 a.m., George Washington facing Arizona at 1:30 p.m., Middle Tennessee State meeting Montana State at 4 p.m., and Oregon State against Vanderbilt at 6:30 p.m. to close out the event.
Miami (Ohio) and Oregon State Bring Postseason Pedigree
Miami (Ohio) enters its Sunday opener against UIC after a run in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, according to Miami University Athletics. On the women's side, Oregon State arrives fresh off a runner-up finish in the 2026 West Coast Conference Tournament and ahead of its move into the re-established Pac-12 Conference, as reported by the Bend Bulletin. Those storylines add national weight to the tournament.
This marks the first time the Scout Jacksonville Classic has featured a women's bracket at all, according to Vanderbilt University Athletics, which confirmed nine women's teams and seven men's programs are participating over the holiday week. The event was first held in 2021, according to Wikipedia, and is scheduled to take place at FSCJ in 2026.
Inside The Reef and FSCJ's Growing Athletic Profile
The tournament's host site, known as The Reef, is at FSCJ's South Campus at 11901 Beach Blvd. Jerry Thor said the event is a great showcase for the venue and Jacksonville, per the same account. FSCJ's athletic teams are known as the Manta Rays.
John Avendano is FSCJ's president.
What the Tournament Means for Jacksonville
The Scout Jacksonville Classic is produced and operated by RBG Events and features a 16-team field during the Thanksgiving holiday period, according to News4JAX's reporting. Tickets and event updates are available at jacksonvilleclassic.com and through the tournament's social channels at @jaxclassichoops.
Hosting Power Four basketball programs at FSCJ's own arena marks a new kind of spotlight for the college.
